Vehicle.



1. B. FERGUSON.

VEHICLE.

vAPPLxcATlmI. msu Aums. 191s. 1,227,257., Patented May 22, 1917. s SHET`s-sHEET l.

Suva/WHW W n mi Guo/Mews l J. B. FERGUSON.

VEHICLE. APPutATmN FILED Aue.25, 1916.

SHEET 2.

Patented May 22, 191?.

3 SHEETS lIIIIQIIIIIII May 22,1917.

IH a J. B. FERGUSON.

VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED AuG.25, Isle.

JOSEPH E. FERGUSON, oF NEW roman.

Specification of Letters Patent.'

l.Patented May 22', 191 7.

Application led August 25, 41916. v Serial N o. 116,869..

To all whom it may concer/n.:

Be it known that I,JosErH B. FERGugsoN, a subject of the King. of Great Britain, and a resident of New York, county of New York, State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Vehicles, of which the following is a speci-l l fication.

My invention relates to vehicles and par-v ticularly to the construction and lubrication thereof. An object of my invention .is to'provide a vehicle, embodying a circulating system and a spring and a mounting therefor, wherein fiexure of the spring is substantially or wholly unrestrained except for the inherent elasticity of the material of the spring. In the attainment of this object and as ya further object I provide a construction wherein means is provided forattaching a spring to parts of the vehicle intended to. be resiliently spaced apart and wherein ie'xure of the spring is unrestrained and to this end I provide bearing members for the spring, permitting its free movement regardless of vwhether or not additional forces are transmitted by said spring td said parts'. In the attainment of the above objects, and as a further object,Iprovide a construction of a spring and'itsmounting, wherein provision is made to conduct lubri cant to 4and distribute it over all rubbing surfaces and by rubbin 'surfaces I mean all surfaces -in contact uring relative motion, regardless of the nature of the motion. It is my intention that lubricant may be conducted'to and distributed through each spring and its associated parts independently of other parts and also that each spring and its' associated parts may be connected to ory located in or form a part ofV a lubricant circulating system of a vehicle and be lubricated by lubricantcoming from I some other rubbing surfaces or4 pass its lubricant on to other rubbing surfaces, being thus incidentally lubricated while con'- vducting lubricant to otherparts. It is my further object to provide meansl for controlling the flow of lubricant to any such 'construct-ion or through any such circulating system, which is dependent upon ythe operation of the spring and which is so constructed that it will not clog, but may, at

the same time, limit the flow to a very small quantity. In orderthat lubricant conducted to the spring may be passed onl and the l/tached vand to provide flexible conducting members for holding the lubricant in roper relation to the spring and conducting it along its path.

Oth'er and further objects and advantages will appear from the following de,- scription, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and will be pointed out in the appended claims. ,In the drawings, in which like reference characters indicate similar parts, Figure 1 is a partial plan view of -a vehicle chassis, having springs and mountings embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a partial longitudinal section of a preferred form of a spring embodying my invention. Fig. 3 is a' partial longitudinal section of a variation of the form shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is another variation. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 4. Fig-6 is a partial longitudinal view of another variation. Fig. 7 is a cross-section of ,the structure shown in Fig. 6. Figs. 8 and -9 arev details of slightvariations of structure,'and Fig. 10 is a detail.y I

For the purpose of disclosing my invenuse in connection with springs 'of other types, and that I do not intend tdlimit mv invention to the specific details herein referred to -for the purpose of disclosing my invention, but intend that it shall be limited by the hereunto appended claims. For the purpose of disclosing my'invention, I herein 1 00 describelin connection with the drawings,

an embodiment of my invention which is adapted to use in connection with vehicles.

In Fig. l a vehicle is shown with the` v frame 1 mounted on rear axle 2 and front 105 axle 3 by, springs 4. It isintended that power shall be transmitted to the rear wheel i 15. The lamination 13 has a free moving' contact with the cap 14. The front edge 16 of the cap 111 and the extended portion 17 of the axle housing 6 form together a com-v plete rim, the function of which will hereinafter appear. The laminations of the spring are inserted within a ring 18 and the set screw .f members `within this ring. A shear pin 20 passes with a free fit through openings 1n the springs to prevent relative longitu inal displacement. Fixedly mounted `upon the frame member 1 there is a bracket or housing 23, the general arrangement of which is well shown inFig. k5. 1n the form shown in Fig. 2, the upper inner surface 24 of the bracket or housing 23 is substantially flat.`

The upper and lower surfaces of the ring 18 arecylindrical, being struck from 'the center" C at the middle of the vertical dimension of the ring. A bearing member 25, having a lower curved surface which the upper curved surface of the ring and an upper substantially dat surface which coperates with the substantially Hat surface 24, is positioned between the ring and the upper portion of the bracket or housing 23. Several variations ofl this bearing are disclosed herein and it is not my intention that my invention shall be limited to any of them, but it is intended that this bearing may be varied within the scope of the claims hereunto appended. Through the upper wall of the bracket or housing 23 extends a pipe 27 of the sys for supplying lubricant,v and which leads to many` parts of the vehicle and `is fed preferably from a reservoir under pressure. 'The bearing member 25 may be of any desirable material, for example, lubricantmpregnated Wood, or desirable bearing material, having lubricant-carrying interstices. Passing through lubricant holes 2 8, which are arranged so that they are not in 'exaetregister with the discharge end of the pipe 27'.r rlrhe spring and the ring 18 are held in the bracket or housing 23 against lateral movement by a ca member 29, which Tis secured to the bracket by bolts 29. IThe ends of the bracket are extended out to form continuous rimsI 23', which 'surround the openings in the ends of the bracket. The operatlon of thls structure will appear hereinafter.

19 is set up torclamp the spring coperates withl y -'through 'holes 28 and the the bearing member 25 are lOne arrangement for mounting the end of the spring is shown in Fig. 2, and it comprises brackets 30, which are adjustably held to the fra-me member 1 by clamping members 31 of any well-known type. These brackets include housings 32 in which are positioned pins 33. vThe housing has an extension 3e, forming a complete. ring around the opening therein, through which the spring extends. The lower lamination 8 of the spring is coiled around' the pin 33.

lt will be apparent that as the axle hous ing 8 moves up and down relatively tothe frame', there will be a bending of the spring members, which will result in a rockingforward and backward of the vertical elements of the spring, particularly of those near the center of the spring, and there will be a change in the longitudinal vdimension of the spring. The' rocking will cause rotation of the-ring about the center C. rllhis will cause a sliding of the cylindrical surface of the ring within the cylindrical surface of the bearing member 25, and will likewise cause the reciprocation of the bearing member across the Hat surface of the inner face of the bracket. rlhe change in the longitudinal dimensionv will also cause some reciprocation. rllhe oil will preferably be fed through the pipe 27 under pressure,

and the backward and forward movement of the member 25.will cause a weeping of the oil from between the flat surface of the bracket 23 and member 25 and a' flow of oil slipping of the surface of the member 18 upon the surface of the member 25 will cause a weeping of the oil over the edges of the curved surface of .the member 18' into the oil circulation system between the laminations of the springs, which, in, the form shown in Fig. 2, consists of the holes 35leading to the grooves 36, the flow of oil being controlled by the movement of the spring., lt will be apparent that a large oil opening may be used, which cannot readily become clogged and the oil may be under pressure, but the flow will, be restrictedv to a mere weepage and there will be ne weepage unless there is movement ofthe spring. rlhe iow of oil is therefore dependentupon the flexure of the spring. As soon' asv movement of the spring ceases or commences, the flow of oil respectively ceases and commences. The oil passes through the circulatory svstem, lubricates the surfaces of the laminations and passes eventually in the form shown in Fig. 2, through the opening' 37 to the rubbing surfaces between the spring and the piu -33. A reservoir 46 is formed in the housing 3d, which stores up lubricant to provide a continuous supply pf these rubbing surfaces. An opening 38 in the-housing 34 is "provided for conducting: oil to other bearlngs, so that the spring may be a mere link' in a complete circulating. system* and a hole 39 in the rear axle housing 6 has a simllar by split rings 40. These casings may be of any preferably iexible material, which will restrain the lubricant from escape. A jacket" 42, of well-known material, may surround the spring and extend from. the center bracket or housing 23, to either end housing and assist in conducting the lubricant, thereby forming a part of the circulating system. Casings 41 may also inclose fibrous material 43 of any character, which will absorb and conduct oil, as a wick might', and which will, at the same time, pad out or upholster the lcasings.

In the form shown in Fig. 3, longitudinal movementof the 'spring relatively 'to the frame is restrained by the mounting at the center of the spring, and the bracket. or housing 23 is modified by afiixing the bearing member 25 to thelfrousing, so that the housing or bracket has a fixed curved surface on the inside ofthe upper portion thereof, which engages the upper curved" surface of the ring 18. The oil supply pipe 27 supplies lubricant, the iow of which -is controlled by the relative movement of the 4members-18 and 23. The center portion of the spring being fixed in its longitudinal movement, such movement 'must be provided for at the is therefore modified by having within 'it cylindrical bearing surfaces 34, in which there `is positioned a cylindrical bearing member 45, in which there is'a slot which accommodates the vend of the spring. The cir-v culating system within thel laminationsA of the spring discharges into the reservoir 46 in the housing 34, and this' reservoir provides a continuous'supplyof oil. f

nd bearing and the housing 34 i In the form where longitudinal movement ofthe spring is prevented by the middlef bearing, the sides ofthe ring 18 may be:

extended out into the circular cheek plates 49, as shown in F i-g. 10, and these cheek plates are positioned in recesses 50, formed in the back face of the bracket and in the inner face `lof the cover plate 29.

In the form shown in Figs. 4 and .5 the lubricating system for they laminations may be made by the concave surfaces` 51 of the spring laminations, -or by groove and tongue 52, this being a matter of choice and available materials. In this form thelubricant passes to the opening in through the center of the laminations in which the shear pin 20 is positioned. The hole 53, through ring 18, does not register with the lubricant supply pipe'27 and is therefore fed by weepage, as above described.

4adjustment is provided for.

In the formshownin Fig. 6, mountings for the ends of the spring comprise'the cylindrical bearing members 45, as above described, and the center mounting is varied.

Secured to the side of the frame is a pillow block 55, which has 'a roughened front face,

and held against this face by the bolt 56, is

i a supporting member 57, which has a hollow extension 58, in which the bolt 56 is secured. Bolt 56 passes through a' slotin the frame, so that upward and downward,

spring housing comprises a cap member. 59

The center and the base member 60, which surrounds .the extension 58.- The cap and base are held Itogether bythe boltI 61. The plug 62 closes the open end ofthe extension 58 and the nut63 holds the base of the housing thereon. The washer 64 prevents leakage V of the lubricant. The cap 65 closes the open end of the base, through which the extension 58 extends. The oil pipe 27 supplies lubricant through the bolt 56, to the hdllow part of the extension58 and a comparatively large opening 27 in the lower face of this extension extends to the outer bearing face of this extension. ",.The base member 60 co-A .bperates with the bearing surface of the extension 58,l and it is only upon movement of the spring that oil is permitted to weep yfrom the opening 27 to the openings 27, which discharge in tothepassages 65 in the-springs', p

which lead to the circulating system with-k in the spring.- This weepage voccurs onlyupon -movement of the spring, because the load istaken by the face of the extension 58 in which the opening 27I is made.- The holes 65 in the back portion ofthe spring are preferably made larger than those ,in

front, so that the greater. supply of oil Will go to the rear axle.

The iow of oil .into the housings for the spring ends may be limited to the weep-4 age between laminations or between bearlng surfaces and surfaces of the spring and this limits the flow-of'oilthrough openings 38 and 39. The brake .operating shafts 70 are inclosed within portions of the frame,. and are operated by the cables 71 and levers 72. The oil flowing from the end mountings of the springs through openlngs 38 and 39 is led tothese shafts, so that it is seen that on the frame there is a lubricant supply and on the rear axle .housing there are bearings, as well as those on the frame, and llthat *the spring constitutes a section of the circulating system for the lubricant, and that it is incidentally lubricated as the lubricant cir- I culates. Because of the 4continuous movement of the laminations of the spring relatively tofone another, the lubricant fed between the laminationsof the spring will'exude from` the sides and jacket 42 assists in conducting the lubricant from the housing The housings i rying a pin 76,

of one .spring mountingwto the housing of the other. From the rear of the spring, in the form shown in Fig'.- 2, therel is a direct y outlet 37 from thecirculating system to the axle housing and weepage lubricates the spring mounting and passes to the brake shaftthrough opening 39. 1

If it should prove desirable to attach the. spring to anypart which is to be resiliently supported by means of .a shackle, the construction shown in Figs. 8 and 9 may be used, which comprises the shackle cara bolt passing through the opening 77, attaches the shackle to the part with which it is desired to associate the spring. rIhe usual casing 41 is secured t0 and surrounds the opening in the end of the shackle. f

It is to be clearly understood that the bolts 15 do not pass through 1the laminations of the spring. Lips are provided at the edges of certain of the housings, to

prevent the flow of oil into the casings 4l. In the bottom of the housings or brackets 28, openings are provided for the outlet of lubricant, which may be allowed to drip away or be conducted to another point or carried back to the main supply system. for the ends of the spring, such as housings 34k, are provided with open ends for the insertion of the pins y33, or

bearing members 45, and caps close these ends and hold these members in position.

While I have described and illustrated a cantaliver spring construction for the most part, for the purpose of disclosing my invention, 1t is apparent that my invention may be embodied in constructions comprising springs of other'typ'es and I do not inv tend that my invention shall be limited by the specific structure herein described and illustrated, but intend that it shall be limited by the hereunto appended claims. I claim. l. In a device of the class described,A a laminated spring, a vsource of lubricant supply for ythe laminations thereof and means the operation of which is dependent upon vthe liexure of said spring for controlling said supply.

2. In a device of the class described, parts to be resilientlyspaced,V a laminated spring coperating with and spacing said parts,

the-laminations of said spring comprising the sec-v tion of said system extending from oneof said parts to another.

3. In a device of the class described,parts to be'resiliently spaced, a laminated spring coperating with and' spacing .said parts, a bearing 'on one of said parts, and a source of lubricant supply, the laminations of said spring being arranged to conduct lubricant to said bearing from said supply.

4. In a vdevice of the class described, a

parts, rubbing `sur spring, a bearingv therefor having an opening. for the passage of lubricant, means cooperating wth said opening and dependent upon fiexure of said spring tocontrol the flow of lubricant through said opening.

5. In a devicefof the. class described, a spring having a bearing member, a bearing member coperating with said iirst mentioned bearing member, one of said bearing members having an opening therein for the passage of lubricant and leading to the bearing face thereof at a point where the face of the coperating bearing member is substantially unbroken, whereby the ilow of lubricant is controlled by the movement of said spring.

ref

6. In al device of the class described, a

laminated spring, a mounting therefor, a

lubricant circulating system for rubbing faces of said spring and mounting and means dependent upon the movement of said spring for controlling the flow of lubricant thereto.

9. In a device of the class described, a laminated spring having a lubricant circulating system and a bearing member, and a bearing member having a bearing face comprising a substantially uninterrupted portion coperating therewith and having a lubricant supply opening leading t0 the bearing face thereof at a point thereof coperating with said portion of said first named bearing face, said parts being arranged to deliver the lubricantpassing between said members to said system.

10. In a device of the class described, a. laminated spring having a lubricant circulating system and a bearing member, a bearing memberY cop'erating lwith said firstnamed bearing member, and a source of lubrican-t supply for said system, said parts being arranged t0 deliver lubricant through said system to said bearing members.

11. In a device of the class described, parts to be resiliently spaced, a laminated spring coperating with and spacing said aces on one of said parts, a source of lubricant: supply on said other part and means 'for conducting lubricant from said source to said surfaces and includin the lamination's of said spring.

V12.` n a device of'theclass described', a` laminated spring having a plurality of beara cant to one of said' bearings, .said parts? ing members, bearing members coperating therewith,and.means for delivering lubr1- being arranged to deliver lubricant from one bearing to said .laminations and from said' lammations to another vof said` bearings.v

13. In a device of the cla-ss described, a

. said housings and a jacket surrounding saidspring and extending from one housing to another and acting; to carry lubricant to one of said bea-rings. 4

15. In a device -of the class described, a laminated spring, mounting devices for said spring and comprising housings having openings for said spring, means for lsupplying lubricant to said Spring at one of said housings, a jacket substantially surrounding v said spring and extending from one housing to another, and a casing extending from one of said openings to another and surrounding said spring.

16. In a 'device of the class. described, a plurality of parts to be spaced, a laminated spring coperating Awith andspacing ,Said

' parts, means for'attaching said 'sprmg to said parts, includinghousings having openings for said spring a casing extending from one opening to another, said housings and j casing substantially entirely surrounding said spring, and fibrous material within said casing.

l17. In a device of the class described, a spring, amounting device for saidspring and comprising a, housing, a spring bearing in said housing, and a source of `lubricant supply, said housing having a lubricant fresmeans to carry lubricant to said reservoir of said housing.

18. Ina device of the class described, a spring,a mounting device for said spring and havin a bearing surface, a bearingsurface on said spring, a bearing member having two bearing faces, one of which coperates with said lfirst named surface and the other of which coperates with the bearing surface of said spring.

19. In a device of the class described, a spring, a mounting device for said spring and havin a bearing surface, a bearing surface on sald spring, a bearing member havervoir for said bearing, sa1d spring having.

operates with said rst named surface and the other of which coperates with the bear-V l ing surface of said spring, one pairA of cooperating surfaces being curved and the other pair of coperating surfaces being 7g substantially plane.

20. In a device of the class described,

- parts to be spaced, a spring coperating 'With and spacing said parts and having a bearing member, a housing secured'to o ne of said members andhaving an' opening 1n its side forthe introduction and removal of said spring and being provided with a bearing member coperating with said first member, and means for retainingsaid spring against passing through said opening.

' 21. In a device 4of the class described, y,a springhaving a lubricant circulating system, a source of supply for said system and means controlled by themovement of said spring for governing the liovv of lubricant from said system.

22. In a vehicle, a lubricanticirculating system, ya. supporting spring and means controlled by said spring for governing vthe How of lubricant in said system.

'23. In a vehicle, a frame, an axle housing,

`a laminated'l spring supporting said frame from said housing, said spring having a lubricant circulating system, means for conducting lubricant from said system substantiallydirectly to said housing and means for conducting lubricant Weeping from said spring to other parts of said vehicle.

24. Ina vehicle, a'lubricant circulating system having as one portion thereofv a spring, a source of supply for Asaid system, and means controlled by the flexureof said spring to control the iow orf lubricant in said system.

25. In aA vehicle, a lubricant Icirculating vsystem having'asan intermediate portion thereof a spring, a` 'source ofsu ply for saidl system, and means controlled) by the flexure of said spring to control theliow roflubricant in said system.

26. ,In a device of the class described, a A:spring having a bearing member, a bearing member coperating with said first mentioned bearing member, one of said 'bearing members havin an opening therein for the passage of lubrlcant and leading to the bearing face thereof at a point where the face 0f the coperating member is formed to 00ntrol the flowI of lubricant through said opening, whereby the flow of lubrlcant is controlled by the movement of said spring.

`27. In a device of the class described, a spring, a member having an opening for the discharge oflubricant, a member normally coperating withV said opening to control 65 ing, two -bearmg faces, one of which collubricant from saidopening.

28. Ina device ofthe class described, a spring, a member having an opening for the discharge of lubricant, a member normally closing` said opening to prevent discharge i spring,

- surfaces therefrom, and operated upon the flexureof said spring to move relatively to said opening to cause the flow of lubricant from said opening.

v'29. ln a device of the class described, parts to be resiliently spaced, a spring for spacing said parts and having a bearing surface, a bearing for said spring on one of said parts whereby end thrust may be sustained, a bearing member on said last mentioned part upon which said surface makes sliding contact, and a mounting for said spring upon th'eother part. f

30. In a device of the class described, a a ringsurrounding said spring and having top and bottom surfaces, one of said comprising a bearing surface curved in the direction of the length of said spring, and a mounting for said spring having a complementally curved bearing surace coperating with said lirst named surace.

81. ln combination, a spring having a lubricant circulating system, a member having a lubricant opening ktherein for supplying lubricant to said system, and a part connected to said spring to move relatively marges? f to said opening upon flexure of said spring to controlthe flow of culating system. v

32. ln a vehicle,-a spring and parts cooperating therewith whereby said spring is flexed in the ordinary operation of the vel hicle, a lubricant circulating system, and means operated by the leXure of said spring for controlling the flow of. lubricant in said system.

33. In a vehicle, a spring and parts cooperating therewith whereby said spring is flexed in the ordinary operation of the vehicle, a lubricant circulating system, a memlubricant to said cirber having a lubricant opening therein for the flow of lubricant in said system, and a part actuated by tleXure of said spring tomove relatively to said opening to control the flow of lubricant in said circulating system.

34. In a vehicle, a spring and parts cooperating therewith whereby said spring is flexed in the ordinary operation of the vehicle, a lubricant circulating system, and means' operated by the flexure of said spring, whereby the flowl of lubricant in said system is proportioned tothe flexing of said spring.

In testimony whereof, l have signed my name to this specification.

JOSEPH B. FERGUSON. 

